Why Maroon and Gold?
There is much lore and myth around maroon and gold. Do they represent the blazing leaves of fall along the Mississippi gorge? Is there some historical significance buried in our nation's history? Can it be just a coincidence that Harry Potter's house colors mimic the University's?

The truth is rather more mundane. In about 1880, as the University of Minnesota was preparing for spring graduation, President William Watts Folwell decided the time had come to pick school colors. In the half-dozen or so years since the first degrees were awarded to University graduates, different colors had been used at every ceremony. Folwell asked an English instructor, Augusta Norwood Smith, to select proper colors to use for graduation ribbons and other occasions. She chose maroon and gold, which made a favorable impresson on the students and faculty. As the years passed, and without any kind of formal action, maroon and gold became the de facto official school colors.

Read a Minnesota magazine article about the fouding of the University here.

Why a Gopher?
Yes, Goldy is awfully cute, but, really, how much trepedation and awe do our athletics teams engender when they charge out onto the field of play to the announcement, "Here come the Golden Gophers!"

Well, the Gopher mascot is a tradition as old as the state. Minnesota was tabbed the "Gopher State" in 1857 after a satirizing cartoon, depicting nine Gophers with the heads of local politicians pulling a locomotive, was published.  The story was over legislative action for a $5 million railroad proposal in western Minnesota.  Later, the University picked up the nickname.

OK, so why the 'Golden' Gophers?
The "Golden" adjective has not always been a part of the Gopher nickname.  During the 1930s, Gopher football squads wore gold jerseys and pants. Legendary KSTP-AM radio announcer Halsey Hall coined the term "Golden Gophers" in reference to the team's all-gold attire on the field. From 1932 through 1941, Minnesota compiled an impressive record, losing only 12 games and winning seven Big Ten titles and five national championships - a true "golden" decade of Gopher football.

School Songs
Hail! Minnesota is one of two official school songs. The hymn-like alma mater is traditionally sung at the close of formal programs and is now also the official state song, with slightly different words. However, when it was first introduced, in 1904, it was lamented for being slow. ("A dirge," the Minneapolis Tribune called it.)

In response, the Minnesota Daily offered a $10 prize for a more spirited song. The Tribune soon upped the pot to $100 and took over sponsorship of a formal contest in 1909. The result was the Minnesota Rouser, written by Floyd M. Hutsell. The contest was judged by University President Cyrus Northrop and Minnesota Governor A. O. Eberhart. It, too, met with mixed reviews, but quickly gained favor, especially after an introductory verse was dropped. What exists now is the original refrain of the Minnesota Rouser.  

Click here to listen to the "Minnesota Rouser" and "Hail! Minnesota."